BRGS DALESMEN CYCLING CLUB 1947-50
There seems to be little on record concerning the club and its formation and activities, so with fading memory I hope to revive memories in some of us who were involved.
In 1947 the head of school was ,Ted Holden ,who was approached by James Jordon, Brian Bennet and Clive Martin with a view to have his blessing on the idea of a school cycling club which we hoped would emulate the well established Rossendale Wheelers and Whitworth Wheelers; clubs that already had active BRGS members, Mr. Holden give consent on the proviso that a Master could be found who would be responsible in so far as over viewing and monitoring the new club. Such a person was found in ex RAF Flt.Lt.,Armitage who had recently joined the BRGS common room and who I think taught in the Maths.dept , he will be better remembered by many boys for the white MG two seater that often brought a couple of boys up from Newchurch Road to the school,
The new club aimed at a mid-week training run of some 20 miles and a Sunday run, which usually worked out at nearer to 100 miles; we were nothing if not fit and enthuastic, machines varied from standard day to day bikes to hand built racing bikes such as Bates and Thanet’
Two highlights worth mentioning are the First and Last Runs and the Timetrial.
The F and L run was the last of the old year and the first of the New Year; a night ride going through the mid night hour and finishing with breakfast on Jan. first. These runs were always exciting and well supported.
The timetrial was a one and only; starting on Haslingdon Old Road and following a measured 25miles to Brock and back. Riders were started at minute intervals against the clock and the rider with the fasted time won the event, Times were good, the winner returning a one hour four minutes for the distance. The reason why there was no repeat of the event was that I managed to hit a cow crossing the road for milking just before the finishing line!
With head down and surging up to a fast crossing of the line I saw not the black and white beastie who make off with a bellow upon impact leaving me in the air later to land on the tarmac with a fractured collar bone .Well deserved you might say; but it as only 07.00hr and we had completed a fast 25 miles.
The Bacup Times had a weekly report on the Dalesmen and the previous weeks run.
At H.S.C. time the club numbers always fell and as with so many activities, once the leaders go, so too does the activity.
They were happy and healthy days with non of the different pressures that our 5th and 6th formers now have. I would not swap places with you now although I would have envied the technology of today had it been available then
Clive Martin 42-49